Electrical switches



Feb. 5, 1957 w. BROWN ET AL ELECTRICAL SWITCHES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 2, 1953 Feb. 5, 1957 w. BRWN ET AL ELECTRICAL SWITCHES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2, 1955 INVENToRs BROWN BERNAT-r Vm/wif FIG. 6.

ELECTRICAL SWITCHES Walter Brown and Joseph Bernatt, Guelph, Ontarip, Canada, assignors to James R. Kearney Corporation, St.

Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application September 2, 1953, Serial No. 378,157

6 Claims. (Cl. 20G-48) This invention relates generally to electrical switches and more specifically to a single pole disconnect switch adaptable for gang operation and intended particularly for useion multi-phase power lines, the predominant ob ject of'the invention being to provide such a switch which is of the side-opening type, and which is capable of performing its intended function in a highly eicient manner.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved switch of this invention with certain parts thereof shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a top, plan view of the switch shown in Fig. l, with certain parts thereof shown in changed positions.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, horizontal section of a contact assembly of the improved switch of this invention showing parts of said assembly in closed switch position. f

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts l referred to above approaching the closed switch position.

`Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is `cross-section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

In the drawings, wherein are shown for purposes of illustration, merely, one embodiment of the invention, A designates the improved switch generally. The switch A is essentially a single pole disconnect switch of the sideopening type which is adapted for gang operation in relation to a multi-phase power line. The switch A consists of two insulator columns 1 and 2 mounted on a base structure 3, the insulator column 1 being stationary relative to the base structure 3 and the insulator column 2 being rotatable about its axis with respect to said base structure.

The rotating insulator column 2 supports a switch blade 4; which is provided with a fixed blade contact 5 at its outer, swing end. The inner end portion of the blade 4 is secured to the insulator column 2 by means of a suitable clamp 6 that is fastened in place to perform its function by suitable attaching devices 7, the inner end portion of the blade being securely clamped between portions of the clamp 6 and a base plate S which is mounted at the top of the insulator column 2. Fixed to the insulator column 2 at the lower'end thereof is an operating arm 9, said operating arm being secured in place relative to said insulator column 2 by suitable fastening devices 10. Also, the base structure 3 has fixed thereto a bearing structure 11 through which a portion of the spindle 2 of the insulator column 2 extends for free rotation` therein, Said bearing structure having a flange 11' and portions of fastening devices 12 extend through openings formed through said ange and through said base structure for securing said bearing structure to said base structure.

By referring to Fig. l it will be noted that the clamp 6 includes an upwardly projected extension 13 from the upper end of which a horizontal extension 13 is projected rearwardly, said extension being spaced upwardly from the top portion of the clamp 6. Interposed between the lower face of the extension 13 and thel top face of a portion 14 of the clamp 6 is an end portion 15 of an 2,780,684 Patented Feb. 5, 1957 ice to the extension 13 and the clamp portion 14. The

arm 15 has an upstanding boss 16 formed thereon, and at its rear end said arm is provided with a clamp structure 1'7 which is adapted to secure an electrical conductor to said arm mechanically and electrically. By referring to Fig. l it will be noted that a exible shunt conductor 18 is provided, one `end of which is secured to the portion 12 of the clamp 6 by a bolt 19 and the opposite end of which is secured to the boss 16 of the arm 15 by a bolt 20, said bolt 20 serving, also, to secure in place a sleet hood 21 that embraces and protects from ice mechanism located above the upper portion of the insulator column 2.

Secured to the stationary insulator column 1 at the top thereof is a bracket 22, said bracket having a lower portion 22a and an upper portion 22b which are joined by an intermediate portion 22C. The intermediate portion 22c of the bracket 22 includes a horizontal wall portion 23 from which a vertical wall portion 24 is extended, said vertical wall portion merging with the lower portion 22a, as is shown to good advantage in Fig. 5. Also, the intermediate portion of the bracket 22 is provided with an extension 25 which is spaced upwardly from the horizontal wall portion 23 for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth. A portion of 26' of a member 26 is disposed between the wall portion 23 and the extension 25 of the intermediate portion 22c of the bracket 22 and -a toggle pin 27 is extended through alined openings formed through the extension 25, the portion 26 of the member 26, `and through the wall portion 23, said toggle pin having a head at one end and being retained in place by a cotter pin 28. Secured to the outer portion of the member 26 by means of fastening devices 29 is a substantially U-shaped jaw contact 30 which is possessed of resiliency in order that its spaced legs 30a and 30h may be movable toward and from each other. The spaced legs 30a and 30b of the jaw contact are thickened at their outer end portions so as to increase the Wearing properties thereof.

The portion 26' of the member 26 which is disposed between the wall portion 23 and the extension 25 of the intermediate portion 22C of the bracket 22 and through which the toggle pin 27 is extended, is shaped as is shown to good advantage in Figs. 3 and 4; that is to say said portion 26' includes an edge portion 26a which is curved in part and has formed therein a pair of spaced notches 31. Also, Iat one end of the curved part of said edge portion 26a an abutment 32 is provided, with another abutment 33 being provided at the opposite end of said curved part of said edge 26a. Extended rearwardly from the vertical Wall portion 24 of the intermediate portion 22c of the bracket 22, is a barrel 34 in which is disposed a plunger 3S, said plunger having formed `therein a substantially semi-circular seat 36. Also, the plunger is pro'- vided with a centering pin 37 that is extended therefrom, and this centering pin is projected into an en-d portion of a coil spring 3S which is disposed within the barrel 34 with one end of said coil spring engaging said plunger and the opposite end of said coil spring engaging the end face of the bore of the barrel. The semi-circular seat 36 of the plunger 3S receives an appropriately shaped end portion 39a of a link 39, while a similarly shaped portion at the opposite end of said link is received by the spaced notches 31 formed on the edge portion 262l of the member 26. By referring, particularly, to Fig. 5 it will be noted that a shunt conductor 40 is provided between the upper portion 22b of the bracket 22 and avances 3 the jaw contact 30, one. end. portion of said shunt conductor being secured by means of a bolt 41 to said jaw contact, and the opposite end portion of said shunt con ductor being suitably secured mechanically and electrically within a recess 42 formed in the portion i3 of the upper portion Z2b of the bracket 2 2.

it will be noted that the improved switch of this invention includes a sleet hood 4d which is secured by suitable fastening means 45 to the upper portion 22b of the bracket 22 mounted atop the stationary insulator column l, said sleept hood being shaped (see 44 of Fig. 2) to accommodate the swing of the jaw contact 30. This hood serves to reduce the chance that formation of ice on the moving parts of the jaw assembly will interfere with the eflicient operation of the switch. Also, ity will be noted by referring to Fig. l, that the member 26 is provided with prongs 46 which overlap and engage parts of the top and bottom faces of the bridge portion of the jaw contact and thus aid in obtaining secure attachment between said member Z6 and the jaw contact 30.

In the use of the improved switch of the present invention the coil spring 3S, acting through the link 39, actuates the member 26, which may be described as a toggle member, and to which is attached the forked, jaw

contact, in such manner that when the switch is in the L open position, the forked, jaw contact is maintained in a position offset angularly to a line through the center of each insulator column and in the operating plane of the switch blade 4. Also, with the switch in the closed position and the contacts in full engagement, the toggle member 26 has been moved pivotally about the toggle pin 27 so as to further compress the coil spring 38, but the link 39 is now in such position that the force exerted by the coil spring cannot move the toggle member 26 so as to force the switch contacts to the open positions thereof unless the switch blade is subjected to opening motion through actuation of the rotary insulator column. Rotation of the rotary insulator column in a direction to begin engagement of the switch contacts, brings one side of the lixed blade contact of the blade 4 to bear against the adjacent leg of the forked, jaw contact, and further rotation causes the forked, jaw contact 30 and the toggle member 26, to pivot angularly, in the operating plane of the blade, about the toggle pin 27 until full contact engagement is attained. The amount of angular travel that the toggle member 26 may make by pivoting about the toggle pin is limited by the abutments 32 and 33 engaging portions of the bracket 22.

lt is important to note that the switch of the present invention is provided with high pressure, wiping coutacts. The width of the contact surfaces of the xed blade contact S of the blade 4 is so related to the width ofthe space between the inner surfaces of the spaced legs of the forked, jaw contact 30 that when the contacts are in full engagement, the legs of the jaw contact are de ected outwardly away from each other so as to cause high pressure to be exerted by the legs of the jaw contact against opposite sides of the ixed blade contact 5. Also, from the time engagement of the contacts begins and until full contact engagement is attained, a wiping action takes place between the contact surfaces of the fixed blade contact and the forked, jaw contact. It is to be noted, also, that the switch of the present invention may be operated in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. To change from clockwise to counter-clock wise operation, or viceversa, the toggle member 26 and the jaw contact 30 fixed thereto are simply inverted.

We claim:

l. An electrical switch comprising a base member, a rotatable insulator supported for axial rotation by said base member, a fixed insulator supported by said base member, a switch blade supported by said rotatable insulator for swinging movement therewith, a contact structure supported by saidl fixed insulatonsaid contact structure comprising a member, a vertical pin for supporting said member for arcuate movement in a horizontal plane, means for locking said member in diiferent positions to which it is moved, a switch element having spaced legs which is fixed to said member and adapted to receive between said spaced legs thereof a portion of said switch blade for making electrical connection between said switch blade and said switch element, an incoming electrical conductor leading to said switch blade, and an outgoing electrical conductor leading from said contact structure, said locking means comprising a toggle link connected at one end thereof to said member, and a plunger disposed for reciprocation in a barrel to which the opposite end of said toggle link is connected.

2. An electrical switch comprising a base member, a rotatable insulator supported for axial rotation by said base member, a xed insulator supported by said base member, a switch blade supported by said rotatable insulator for swinging movement therewith, a contact structure supported by said ixed insulator, said contact structure comprising a member, a vertical pin for supporting said member for arcuate movement in a horizontal plane, means for locking said member in different positions to which it is moved, a switch element having spaced legs which is fixed to said member and adapted to receive between said spaced legs thereof a portion of said switch blade for making electrical connection between said switch blade and said switch element, an incoming electrical conductor leading to said switch blade, and an outgoing electrical conductor leading from said contact structure, said locking means comprising a toggle link, a seat formed in said member which receives one end portion of said toggle link, and a plunger disposed for reciprocation in a barrel and having a seat formed therein which receives the opposite end of said toggle link.

3. An electrical switch comprising a base member, a

rotatable insulator supported for axial rotation by said base member, a lixed. insulator supported by said base member, a switch blade supported by said rotatable insulator for swinging movement therewith, a contact structure supported by said fixed insulator, said contact structure comprising a member, a vertical pin for supporting said member for arcuate movement in a horizontal plane, means for locking said member in different positions to which is moved, a switch element having spaced legs which is xed to said member and adapted to receive between said spaced legs thereof a portion of said switch blade for making electrical connection between said switch blade and said switch element, an incoming electrical conductor leading to said switch blade, and an outgoing electrical conductor leading from said contact structure, said locking means comprising a toggle link, a seat formed in said member which receives one end portion of said toggle link, a plunger disposed for reciprocation in a barrel and having a seat formed therein which receives the opposite end of said toggle link, and a resilient means for urging said plunger in one direction.

4. An electrical switch comprising a base member, a rotatable insulator supported for axial rotation by said base member, a xed insulator supported by said base member, a switch blade supported by said rotatable insulator for swinging movement therewith, a contact structure supported by said xed insulator, said contact structure comprising a member, a vertical pin for supporting said member for arcuate movement in a horizontal plane, means for locking said member in different positions to which it is moved, a switch element having spaced legs which is fixed to said member and adapted to receive between said spaced legs thereof a portion of said switch blade for making electrical connection between said switch blade and said switch element, and incoming electrical conductor leading to said ,switch blade, and an outgoing electrical conductor leading from said contact structure, said locking means comprising a toggle link, a seat formed in said member which receives one end portion of said toggle link, a plunger disposed for reciprocation in a barrel and having a seat formed therein which receives the opposite end of said toggle link, and a resilient means comprising a coil spring for urging said plunger in one direction.

5. An electrical switch comprising a base member, a rotatable insulator supported for axial rotation by said base member, a fixed insulator supported by said base member, a switch blade supported by said rotatableinsulator for swinging movement therewith, a contact structure supported by said fixed insulator, said contact structure comprising a member, a vertical pin for supporting said member for arcuate movement in a horizontal plane, means for locking said member in dierent positions to which it is moved, a switch element having spaced legs which is fixed to said member and adapted to receive between said spaced legs thereof a portion of said switch blade for making electrical connection between said switch blade and said switch element, an incoming electrical conductor leading to said switch blade, and an outgoing electrical conductor leading from said contact structure, said'locking means comprising a toggle link, a seat formed in said member which receives one end portion of said toggle link, a plunger disposed for reciprocation in a barrel and having a seat formed therein which receives the opposite end of said toggle link, and a resilient means comprising a coil spring for urging said plunger in one direction, said coil spring contacting at one end thereof with said plunger.

6. An electrical switch comprising a base member, a

` rotatable insulator supported for axial rotation by said base member, a fixed insulator supported by said base member, a switch blade supported by said rotatable insulator for swinging movement therewith, a contact structure supported by said fixed insulator, said contact structure comprising a member, a vertical pin `for supporting said member for arcuate movement in a horizontal plane, means for locking said member in different positions to which it is moved, a switch element having spaced legs which is fixed to said member and adapted to receive between said spaced legs thereof a portion Vof said switch blade for making electrical connection between said switch blade and said switch element, an incoming electrical conductor leading from said contact structure, said locking means comprising a toggle link, a seat formed in said member which receives one end portion of said toggle link, a plunger disposed for reciprocation in a barrel andhaving a seat formed therein which receives the opposite end of said toggle link, and a resilient means com prising a coil spring for urging said plunger in one direction, said coil spring contacting at one end thereof with said plunger, and at the opposite end thereof with a portion of said barrel.

References Cited inthe tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,306,117 Dunlap Dee. 22, 1942 

